[thackney]

Some number comparisons to see what I mean.

Here is a recent article talking about prices of conversion kits and fuel costs.

http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/news/article.asp?docKey=600-201206190001KRTRIB__BUSNEWS_14040_38064-1&params=timestamp%7C%7C06/19/2012%2012:01%20AM%20ET%7C%7Cheadline%7C%7CCNG%20vehicles%20will%20get%20more%20rebates%20under%20Oklahoma%20Corporation%20Commission%20plan%20%5BThe%20Oklahoman%2C%20Oklahoma%20City%5D%7C%7CdocSource%7C%7CKnight%20Ridder/Tribune%7C%7Cprovider%7C%7CACQUIREMEDIA%7C%7Cbridgesymbol%7C%7CUS;CHK&ticker=CHK:US

I’ll pick the following to make an example.

$10,000 conversion kit.

$3.50 gasoline cost.

$1.50 CNG cost for equal energy to gasoline.

I only get 14 mpg in my truck and drive about 12,000 miles per year.

Than mean just under 860 gallons of gas per year at $3,000 cost per year.

If I switched to CNG, my cost would be $1,285 for a savings of $1,715 per year.

It will take nearly 6 years just to break even on cost, assuming I would keep the 5 year old truck that long.

And for me, there are not enough CNG stations available, so it would take about 3 more years to pay for the home refueling unit.

The fuel cost savings are significant, but so are the expenses to convert. The market is still too early form most peoples economics to work.

[RegulatorCountry]

12,000 miles per year is well below average. Try 15,000 to 20,000 and the payback period improves considerably. This is for private individual use also. High annual mileage fleets with gasoline engines should be incented to convert. Use this windfall, support it. Benefit. We need all the help we can get and this is a literal godsend.

[ROCKLOBSTER]

$10,000 conversion kit.

Hell, you could get a used CNG F150 for that. (cngvehicles.net)

Most places have NG pipelines for heating, including gas stations. It's only a matter of time before they buy their own commercial compressors and start filling vehicles.

Right now, the home setup looks like the way to go.